Paris, France
We drove back down to Paris from Bayeux and spent the last few days of our 2019 European vacation in Paris. It Kyle’s first time to the city but Kelli’s second. Note to travelers: don’t expect anything to be open on May 1st…Europe’s labor day.
Our first afternoon was spent walking around getting a feel for the city.
The Notre Dame fire happened about two weeks before we got to Paris. This was as close to the Cathedral that we could get. They said it was due to fear of lead poisoning due to all of the lead that was released into the air from the fire.
They weren’t kidding around.
Love locks on Pont des Arts
We took a night river cruise down the Seine. It departed right behind the Eiffel Tower.
They weren’t even lighting Notre Dame up in the evenings.
Our first full day was Wednesday, May 1st. A perfect day to spend several hours exploring the Louvre. We got up fairly early and walked to the Louvre. We thought we were geniuses - not a person in line. Turns out, all major attractions are closed on May 1st in observance of Labor Day.
We were able to find a train to the Palace of Versailles - which was also closed. But we could at least walk around the gardens and explore that area for a bit.
We enjoyed lunch by Versailles and then headed back into Paris and spent most of the afternoon in the grass by the Eiffel Tower.
Kelli found a restaurant that took her back to where her dad’s family is from.
The elevator in the Hotel du Continent was a bit small.
The next morning we headed back to the Louvre to try again at about the same time if not earlier than the day before and ah, yes, there are other tourists around.
Checking out the Mona Lisa with just a few of our closest friends.
Very quiet and calm in the Louvre all day.
The later line to get into the Mona Lisa. At least when we got in first thing the line started in the room - now it was 30-60 minutes into the hallway.
The Code of Hammurabi - the first written law.
Kelli with the Great Sphinx of Tanis
The oldest artifact in the Louvre - about 9000 years old.
Some of the Ishtar Gate that we saw in Berlin.
Tom Hanks was able to get around the Louvre in The da Vinci Code a lot quicker than we were.
The Four Seasons by Arcimboldo. 1563 - 1573
The Grand Gallery
Taking interior design tips from the Louvre’s display of Napoleon III’s apartment.
There wasn’t one macaron shop that Kelli let us pass without sampling.
Back to the tour Eiffel - this time to climb!
Elevator - over 90 minute line. Stairs - no line.
There isn’t a tower in Europe Kyle won’t climb and there also isn’t a tower in Europe that Kelli will climb.
Walking to catch the metro to the airport to fly home. We were both able to pack everything we needed in backpacks that were just barely busting at the seam.
